Think ?f German aut?makers and you are likely t? conjure up names like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, V?lkswagen, Porsche and Audi. Th?se are the ?nes we get on this side ?f the Atlantic. In their home market, they are j?ined, most n?tably, by Opel.
The reas?n we do n?t get that brand in the States is because it's General Motors' European divisi?n, and GM already has plenty ?f brands operating in its ?wn home market.
The reas?n we do n?t get that brand in the States is because it's General Motors' European divisi?n, and GM already has plenty ?f brands operating in its ?wn home market.
But that has not always been the case, and may n?t be f?r much longer, if the latest rep?rts pr?ve accurate.
The German GM subsidiary marketed in the United States between 1958 als? 1975. Since then, vari?us Opel models have been s?ld Stateside as Buicks, Saturns and even Cadillacs. But with Saturn l?ng gone, and the Omega-based Catera replaced by the stand-al?ne CTS, the ?nly Opel product making it t? these sh?res these days is the Buick Regal.
Recent rep?rts suggested once again that GM c?uld be looking t? sell ?ff Opel, but a proposal rep?rtedly being fielded within the GM hierarchy c?uld see Opel returning t? American shores. The idea w?uld be t? have GM fending off its imp?rt rivals with an import ?f its own, bringing a small hatchback t? the U.S. market wearing an Opel badge and a nameplate such as Juni?r ?r Allegra.
Whether it w?uld be an all-new pr?duct specifically targeted at American consumers or ?ne based on a current m?del like the Corsa pictured ab?ve remains t? be seen, but sources indicate that, if the pr?posal is taken up in Detr?it, we could be seeing Opels ?n American r?ads as early as 2013.
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